Hundreds of students were sent home from an exam after it was discovered the question paper had been stolen and shared on social media.

More than 200 teenagers had to be turned away from their A-Level physics mock examination when they arrived at Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College following the security breach.

The paper is believed to have been downloaded by a student or students using college computers at the sixth form in Hove, East Sussex.

Hundreds of students at Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College were sent home from an exam after it was discovered the question paper had been leaked onto social media

The well to do institution says in its prospectus: 'BHASVIC is in the top three sixth form colleges nationally – both for results and ‘value added’ outcomes. No other college in the country can claim to be in this position.

'BHASVIC offers a unique environment to study in – sixth form colleges are a brilliant stepping stone between school and university or the workplace.'

While it also encourages prospective students to 'take part in enrichment activities or go on some of the many educational trips we offer.'

Principal William Baldwin said the matter came to light when a student told a teacher the exam paper was being shared on social media sites.

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Mr Baldwin said the sixth form is investigating whether the paper had been left out on view or whether a member of staff left a computer they were still logged on to.

The teenagers set to take the mock paper, which would have been used to provide predicted grades for university applications, were given a letter from deputy principal James Moncrieff when they were sent home.

It read: 'Both the paper and mark scheme are securely held by staff within the physics department and we are investigating the circumstances by which a student [or students] were able to download the files and share them with a substantial proportion of the A1 physics student cohort.

'If it transpires that any student purposefully acquired these files without permission, disciplinary action will be taken by the college.'

Mr Baldwin said: 'We are continuing to investigate and looking at the possibility someone perhaps left the paper unattended or left their computer logged on.

It has been suggested a student may have downloaded the paper from an unwitting teacher's computer. School principle William Baldwin said: 'If it transpires that any student purposefully acquired these files without permission, disciplinary action will be taken by the college'

'We are sympathetic to the hardworking students who prepared but to retain the integrity of the exam we had to pull it.'

The exam has been rescheduled for Friday and Mr Baldwin also said there is nothing to suggest the theft was a result of a cyber hack.

One mother of a student, who didn't wish to be named, said: 'It was stressful as my son was psyched up and ready but also very anxious about it.

'The school reacted quickly and the exam is being rescheduled. On the plus side, I suppose they can do a bit more revision.'